Council Votes to Continue Payments to University Hospital

The Louisville Metro Council will continue contributing money to indigent care at University of Louisville Hospital.

The city gives about $9.6 million to the hospital every year to care for the poor. Earlier this week, four members of the Budget Committee tabled a payment to the hospital due largely to questions over how the money is spent. They also wanted answers about any potential changes to care, visitation rights and employee benefits that may happen if the hospital merges with Jewish/St. Mary’s Health System and Catholic Health Initiatives.

At Thursday’s meeting, the full council voted to continue the funding. The Courier-Journal reports that an amendment to the allocation stipulates that the money will be cut off in March if hospital executives do not answer questions about the merger.

A spokesman for the mayor previously said the funding for indigent care could be slashed in the next city budget, which will contain a number of budget cuts.